Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Donnelly College

Similar nursing programs in Kansas typically produce first-year earnings around $62,370—right at the state median but below the $68,409 national benchmark. That gap matters: nursing is one of the few associate-degree fields with relatively consistent outcomes nationwide, so falling short of the national average suggests students might find stronger launching pads elsewhere, even within Kansas. Top programs like Pratt Community College and Rasmussen University-Kansas show earnings pushing past $68,000, demonstrating what's possible in the same state.

The estimated debt load of $26,624 runs higher than both the state median ($21,250) and national median ($20,751) for nursing associate programs. For a field where graduates can typically absorb their debt quickly—the 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio still falls within manageable territory—this premium is workable but not ideal. Donnelly serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (63%), which often correlates with students needing every advantage in the earnings-to-debt equation.

Without program-specific outcomes data, families face real uncertainty here. The estimates suggest this program could work financially, but other Kansas community colleges appear to deliver better value with stronger earning trajectories and lower debt loads. If Donnelly offers compelling advantages—location, support services, flexibility—it remains viable. Otherwise, the comparison programs present clearer paths to maximizing the return on a nursing degree.